NBA playoffs 2025: Second-round news, schedule, scores and highlights

The second round of the 2025 NBA playoffs has begun, as eight teams look to take another step closer to a title.

All four rounds of the NBA playoffs are best-of-seven, and teams are not reseeded after each round. The team with the better regular-season record in each series will have home-court advantage for that series. All series are played in a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the team with the better record hosting Games 1, 2, 5 and 7 (if necessary).

The Cleveland Cavaliers claimed the No. 1 seed in the East and advanced to the second round after sweeping the No. 8 Miami Heat. The Cavs now face the No. 4 Indiana Pacers, who eliminated the No. 5 Milwaukee Bucksin five games. The No. 2 seed Boston Celtics continue their title defense after also only needing five games to oust the No. 7 seed Orlando Magic. The Celtics face the No. 3 New York Knicks.

In the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder landed the No. 1 seed for a second straight season behind MVP candidate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and and became the first team to advance to the second round after sweeping the No. 8 seed Memphis Grizzlies. Finishing at No. 2 were the Houston Rockets, one of the season's most improved teams, but are now in must-win mode against the No. 7 Golden State Warriors. LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the Los Angeles Lakers to a No. 3 seed but were eliminated by the No. 6 Minnesota Timberwolves. Meanwhile, three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the No.4 Denver Nuggetsoutlasted the No. 5 LA Clippersin a Game 7 rout.

We'll have complete coverage of the NBA playoffs all the way through the 2025 NBA Finals, which tip off June 5 on ABC and the ESPN App.

MORE: First-round recap

EASTERN CONFERENCE

(4) Indiana Pacersdefeat (1) Cleveland Cavaliers, 4-1

• Game 1: Pacers 121, Cavaliers 112


• Game 2:Pacers 120, Cavaliers 119


• Game 3: Cavaliers 126, Pacers 104


• Game 4: Pacers 129, Cavaliers 109


• Game 5:Pacers 114, Cavaliers 105

More:

(3)New York Knickslead (2) Boston Celtics, 3-1

• Game 1: Knicks 108, Celtics 105 (OT)


• Game 2: Knicks 91, Celtics 90


• Game 3: Celtics 115, Knicks 93


• Game 4:Knicks 121, Celtics 113


• Game 5: Knicks at Celtics | Wednesday, May 14 (7 ET, TNT)


• Game 6*: Celtics at Knicks | Friday, May 16 (8 ET, ESPN)


• Game 7*: Knicks at Celtics | Monday, May 19 (8 ET, TNT)

* If necessary

More:

• Celtics' Jayson Tatum has surgery on ruptured right Achilles


• Knicks again don't quit, seize 3-1 lead on Celtics with Game 4 win


• Celtics' Holiday wins NBA's sportsmanship award for 2nd time


• Celtics' Pritchard named NBA's Sixth Man of the Year


• Mazzulla-isms! The best and most bizarre quotes from the Celtics coach

WESTERN CONFERENCE

(1) Oklahoma City Thunderlead (4) Denver Nuggets, 3-2

• Game 1: Nuggets 121, Thunder 119


• Game 2:Thunder 149, Denver 106


• Game 3: Nuggets 113, Thunder 104 (OT)


• Game 4: Thunder 92, Nuggets 87


• Game 5:Thunder 112, Nuggets 105


• Game 6: Thunder at Nuggets | Thursday, May 15 (ESPN)


• Game 7*: Nuggets at Thunder | Sunday, May 18 (TBD)

* If necessary

More:

• Nuggets bounce back, outlast Thunder in OT to take Game 3


• Bontemps: SGA or Jokic? Results are in for final MVP straw poll


• Kram:NBA contenders don't fear the Thunder -- here are 22 reasons they should


• MacMahon/Shelburne:Why the Nuggets suddenly fired their coach and GM

(6) Minnesota Timberwolveslead the (7) Golden State Warriors3-1

• Game 1: Warriors 99, Timberwolves 88


• Game 2:Timberwolves 117, Warriors 93


• Game 3: Timberwolves 102, Warriors 97


• Game 4:Timberwolves 117, Warriors 110


• Game 5: Warriors vs. Timberwolves | Wednesday, May 14 (9:30 ET, TNT)


• Game 6*: Timberwolves vs. Warriors | Sunday, May 18 (TBD)


• Game 7*: Warriors vs. Timberwolves | Tuesday, May 20 (8:30 ET, ESPN)

*If necessary

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